Eledon Pharmaceuticals Announces Use of Tegoprubart anti-CD40L Antibody in Second-ever Transplant of Genetically Modified Heart from a Pig to a Human

Landmark cardiac xenotransplantation procedure conducted at University of Maryland Medical Center

Tegoprubart, administered investigationally to prevent organ rejection post-transplant, targets the CD40L pathway known to play an essential role in both innate and adaptive immune cell activation and function.

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eledon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Eledon”) (NASDAQ: ELDN) today announced that tegoprubart, the company’s investigational anti-CD40 antibody, was used as a cornerstone component of the chronic immunosuppressive regimen administered following the second-ever transplant of a genetically modified heart from a pig to a human. The procedure was completed on September 20th at University of Maryland Medical Center on a 58-year-old male suffering from heart failure.

“This is a momentous milestone for the transplant community and serves as a testament to the continued progress being made towards advancing novel treatment options for patients requiring an organ transplant,” said David-Alexandre C. Gros, M.D., Eledon Chief Executive Officer. “As the field of organ transplantation continues to make important scientific advances, Eledon is dedicated to delivering a novel immunosuppressive regimen with the potential to protect and prevent rejection of transplanted organs, and we are honored to play a role in this historic development.”

Following the successful transplantation, tegoprubart was administered to the patient as a novel, key component of a chronic immunosuppressive regimen designed to suppress the immune system and prevent the body from rejecting the implanted organ. In prior clinical research, tegoprubart has demonstrated a favorable safety and tolerability profile across multiple indications, including kidney transplantation, as well as clinical benefit in the prevention of rejection and the protection of organs after transplantation.

“The historic procedure we conducted on our courageous patient brings us to a pivotal moment in the history of organ transplantation. It is also a critical step in our ongoing mission to address the growing shortage of available organs,” said Muhammad M. Mohiuddin, MD, professor of surgery at University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and scientific/program director of its Cardiac Xenotransplantation Program. “The ability to expand options in all areas including access to available organs and strategies to reduce the risk of rejection means that we are getting closer to realizing the full potential of transplantation for patients. I look forward to continued advancements so that we can hopefully make xenotransplantation an available organ source for patients in the years ahead.”